Officials say Trump administration is sacrificing admiral to protect Hegseth from accountability for boat strikes

Officials in both Congress and the Pentagon have raised alarms that the Trump administration is attempting to deflect accountability from Pete Hegseth regarding a controversial naval strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel. Instead, the administration appears to be placing responsibility on a U.S. Navy admiral.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday identified Admiral Frank M. Bradley as the officer who "directed the engagement," effectively distancing Hegseth from the incident. This comes despite a report in the Washington Post alleging Hegseth ordered the killing of all individuals on the boat.

Leavitt stated, "Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley acted within his authority and the law, ensuring the vessel was neutralized and the threat to the United States eliminated."

The White House statement followed comments by former President Donald Trump, who on Sunday expressed he would not have wanted a second strike and said Hegseth assured him he did not order the deaths, adding, "And I believe him."

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy criticized the administrations handling, saying, "He is selling out Admiral Bradley and sending chills down the chain of command. This is a case study in how not to lead."

A classified Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinion, reviewed by the Guardian, framed the strikes as operations targeting cocaine rather than people, implying any deaths should be considered collateral rather than intentional killings. This contrasts with Trumps public justification, which portrayed the strikes as efforts to prevent overdose deaths.

Admiral Bradley is scheduled to provide a classified briefing to congressional military oversight committees on Thursday. Bipartisan scrutiny intensified following reports that Hegseth allegedly gave a verbal order in September to "kill everybody" on the vessel.

Both House and Senate armed services committees have launched investigations into U.S. military actions against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. Leavitt confirmed that survivors existed after the initial strike, though she did not dispute reports of a follow-on attack.

Hegseth publicly praised Admiral Bradley, stating: "Adm Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my full support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made."

Following the strike, Bradley was promoted from commander of Joint Special Operations Command to commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

Concerns in Congress over the strikes and the legality of targeting survivors remain high. Lawmakers emphasized the need for further scrutiny, with Leavitt noting Hegseth had discussed the matter with concerned members of Congress over the weekend. Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reiterated his confidence in military commanders while addressing the legality of missions aimed at disrupting illicit trafficking.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune defended the operations, emphasizing their role in curbing illegal narcotics into the U.S. and stating that congressional committees would thoroughly review the incident.

Hegseth dismissed media reports as "fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory," insisting that operations in the Caribbean comply with U.S. and international law and are approved through the proper legal channels.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Hegseth, calling him a "national embarrassment" and demanding the release of strike footage and testimony under oath. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker promised a thorough investigation, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.

The September 2 strike was one of several conducted in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean under Trump's orders, including the deployment of a substantial naval fleet near Venezuela. Over 80 individuals were reported killed during these operations.

Hegseth, now self-styled as the "war secretary," has faced internal turmoil within the Pentagon, including sharing sensitive operational information, internal staff conflicts, and a crackdown on leaks, resulting in multiple senior aides being dismissed. Despite these controversies, Trump has continued to defend Hegseth, stating he is "doing a great job."

Author: Chloe Ramirez